Career Capstone for Ray Alexander
April 25, 2025
Halverson Northwest Law Group congratulates Raymond G. Alexander on 40 years of practicing law in the Yakima Valley! As a capstone of his career, last year the Washington State Supreme Court made a precedent-setting ruling in his favor which will be cited by family law practitioners for years to come.
The Supreme Court ruling in the case of Marina P. Wilcox and Matthew Emery Wilcox clarified that while a requesting spouse's need must be considered, it is not a prerequisite for awarding maintenance as it had been prior to 1973. Instead, need is only one of six non-exclusive factors (all of which are given equal weight) that must be considered by a court before awarding spousal maintenance. This allows courts to take a holistic view of the parties' circumstances, including their economic conditions post-dissolution, to ensure a fair and equitable outcome.
For long-term marriages, the ruling supports the idea that substantial maintenance awards can be justified even if the requesting spouse is self-supporting. The court recognized that contributions made during the marriage, such as staying home to raise children or supporting the other spouse's career with a mutual expectation of future financial benefit which was not realized before the marriage ends, should be factored into the maintenance award. Additionally, maintenance can be used to address disparities in property division, ensuring that both parties can maintain a standard of living similar to what they enjoyed during the marriage.
This decision sets a precedent for future spousal maintenance cases in Washington State, highlighting that financial need is not a requirement for such an award contrary to a number of previous appellate decisions. The hope is that this will lead to more amicable resolutions and reduce the likelihood of prolonged litigation since need can no longer be argued as a prerequisite.
Ray Alexander leaves behind a legacy of caring for his clients and helping them navigate difficult times, while also expanding other families through the joy of adoption. We wish Ray all the best in his retirement!
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